2014-12-16

Preparing Christmas III: advent calendar

After last year's calendar - which we loved and was fun - I wanted to make a new one that would last longer and probably use it for a few years. I had the idea in mind for a while, and I have actually been collecting matchboxes for years. First, I had to figure out how to arrange the 24 boxes in order to get a Christmas tree shape, that was the hardest part.

Once I was happy with it, I started wrapping boxes in a gold paper. Three for the top, then two rows of 2, three rows of 3 and then two rows of 4. I was ready to glue each block on top of the other. I realised the white from the boxes was stained and just old, so with a blue shinny deco tape I covered them. Easy peasy! And how would I pull them out? A solution was needed and I covered that with ribbon. I make holes in each box, I've put a knotted piece of ribbon through it and secure in place with tape on the inside.

To finish I painted the numbers with a red ink but it faded a bit and they look rather pink... blhaaaac. It is even harder to see in the photos. And there, a new advent calendar for the family. Instead of the activities/actions to make together this year, I was a bit lazy and just put sweets in each box/day. =/